Mexico becomes central to Aldeasa

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The duty-free business in Mexico is proving key to the growth of Aldeasa?s retail business in Latin America

The duty-free business in Mexico is proving key to the growth of Aldeasa's retail business in Latin America, the company has told TRW. More than 60% of the company's business outside Spain, worth $79.5m, is done in Latin America. Sales in Mexico rose by 28% last year to $17.6m, as the company's outlets at Cancún International airport and the cruise pier of Cozumel made strong gains.

Aldeasa director of international business Julio López Castaño said: "As in other central and south American countries, the second half of 2003 was much better than the first half in Mexico. The increase was mainly due to our management team fine-tuning the selection to meet the needs of passengers passing through the two biggest outlets at Cancún International airport and at the cruise pier in Cozumel."

Aldeasa has been operating at Cancún for two years, and the business has grown strongly during that time as the retailer achieved a better understanding of its key consumers.

The company has also just opened a new 270sq m (2,905sq ft) outlet in the satellite terminal at Cancún.
In other news, Aldeasa posted healthy sales in Peru, where revenues were just under $10m. Sales in its Chile operation increased by 12% to $20.6m, and both January and February saw gains of 25% compared with the same months last year.